It’s easy to hate on GameStop in the age of digital distribution, but I’m sure we all have fond memories from our tender, formative years of standing in the store among wall-to-wall games, playing demos of the newest thing, and being robbed blind on trades. Now, GameStop’s got another too-little-too-late measure to keep you coming back to relive those memories: a better trade-in program.

The new program, to be implemented on August 18th, aims to simplify their current pricing structure from the current setup which can offer ten different prices for a game to a new one that only offers four. On top of that, the trade-ins will see a 20% increase in value, which means $12 instead of $10! You’ll be rich! Don’t spend it all in one place. (Or do—at GameStop, because that’s probably their hope.)

There will still be slight variations in price depending on whether you choose to receive your untold riches in cash or store credit, as well as whether or not you have a GameStop rewards card.

Personally, I’ve always been grateful they’d buy back a product I’d already used at all, but with the advent of digital distribution and the ability to sell games directly to other gamers on the Internet, this improved trade-in program seems like the least they could do. Or it seems like gaming’s biggest middle-man is scrambling to convince gamers it’s still relevant.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-revamped-trades/feed/0The Little System That Could: OUYA Now Available in Stores - It's a gaming console that costs less than $100. Heck. Buy two.http://www.themarysue.com/ouya-in-stores/
http://www.themarysue.com/ouya-in-stores/#commentsTue, 25 Jun 2013 18:04:37 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=159023OUYA console's mega-successful $8.6 million dollar Kickstarter campaign then you've had to wait for the little system that could to finally hit store shelves. Today is that day, frugal gamers! The OUYA is now available at Target, GameStop, and Best Buy if you absolutely must rush out to buy it now. If you can't find it in stores, or if you don't mind waiting for it to ship you can also order it on Amazon.]]>

If you weren’t one of the 63,416 people who contributed to the OUYA console’s mega-successful $8.6 million dollar Kickstarter campaign then you’ve had to wait for the little system that could to finally hit store shelves. Today is that day, frugal gamers! The OUYA is now available at Target, GameStop, and Best Buy if you absolutely must rush out to buy it now. If you can’t find it in stores, or if you don’t mind waiting for it to ship you can also order it on Amazon.

On a slightly sadder note, it’s worth mentioning that some of the OUYA Kickstarter backers still haven’t received their donation units. So, yeah, little bit of shade cast there.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/ouya-in-stores/feed/1GameStop Says Most Customers Won’t Buy a Console That Can’t Play Used Gameshttp://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-customers-want-second-hand-games/
http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-customers-want-second-hand-games/#commentsWed, 13 Feb 2013 23:50:24 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=137287
Rumors abound that the next Xbox will be unable to play used games, and some people aren't happy about it. GameStop is clearly against that because of the business they do in buying and selling used games, so to try to show Microsoft that maybe this plan is a terrible idea, they surveyed customers and found that 60% of them said they would not buy a console that doesn't play used games.]]>
Rumors abound that the next Xbox will be unable to play used games, and some people aren’t happy about it. GameStop is clearly against that because of the business they do in buying and selling used games, so to try to show Microsoft that maybe this plan is a terrible idea, they surveyed customers and found that 60% of them said they would not buy a console that doesn’t play used games.

Those numbers came from GameStop CFO Rob Lloyd at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. Lloyd also added:

Consumers want the ability to play preowned games, they want portability in their games; they want to play physical games. And to not have those things would be a substantial reason for them not to purchase a new console.

The details of the survey aren’t clear, so the results are a little suspect. “Would you not buy a console if it couldn’t play used games?” is a question someone buying your used games is most likely going to say no to, and people can very easily say they won’t buy the new Xbox if it won’t play used games before it’s released, but pick it up anyway.

Still, though, there’s no question some people will be turned off by Microsoft’s plan to kill the used game market. I know because I’m one of them. I fall in that dreaded category of the “casual gamer.” If Microsoft eliminates used games, then they could very well push me out of the market altogether.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-customers-want-second-hand-games/feed/15Gamestop Has Already Sold Out Their Wii U “Deluxe” Pre-Ordershttp://www.themarysue.com/wii-u-deluxe-preorder-sold-out/
http://www.themarysue.com/wii-u-deluxe-preorder-sold-out/#commentsSat, 15 Sep 2012 17:00:45 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=116689Gamestop has stopped taking pre-orders for the $350 "deluxe" version of Nintendo's upcoming console, the Wii U. According to Polygon, employees at Gamestop stores across the U.S. have confirmed that consumers have reserved every unit the retailer has reserved for the console launch on November 18th. If you were wondering whether or not people would be interested in buying the Wii U, you just got your answer.]]>

Gamestop has stopped taking pre-orders for the $350 “deluxe” edition of Nintendo’s upcoming console, the Wii U. According to Polygon, employees at Gamestop stores across the U.S. confirmed that consumers have reserved every unit the retailer has set aside for the console launch on November 18th. The people have spoken: They want more gaming consoles.

Nintendo revealed their plans for the U.S. launch of the Wii U at a press event on Thursday. Gamestop and other retailers began taking pre-orders for console bundles shortly after the event. Since the Deluxe version sold out in less than 72 hours, it seems fair to assume that it’s only a matter of time before Gamestop runs out of basic bundles as well. Gamestop employees were unsure of how long stores would have to wait before getting restocked after launch.

Nintendo is selling the Wii U in two different console “bundles”: The $300 “basic” bundle comes with a white console featuring an 8GB hard drive and the console’s signature “gamepad” controller, while the “deluxe” bundle, for only $50 more, comes with a black Wii U sporting a larger 32 GB hard drive, a gamepad, and a litany of accessories including a charging cradle for the gamepad and NintendoLand, the company’s franchise-mashing mini game collection designed as an introduction to the console’s unique style of gaming. Considering that a basic Wii U bundle and a copy of NintendoLand alone would cost $360.00, the deluxe is clearly the way to go if you think a Wii U is in your future.

Unfortunately, you may have to settle for the basic, since it seems that gamers are swarming like locusts to pre-order every console retailers can throw at them. The bottom line: If you want to have a Wii U on launch day, you better go find somewhere to reserve it right away.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/wii-u-deluxe-preorder-sold-out/feed/5Wikipad, Tablet and Controller Combo, to Cost $499 at Launchhttp://www.themarysue.com/wikipad-launch-499/
http://www.themarysue.com/wikipad-launch-499/#commentsFri, 07 Sep 2012 19:47:53 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=115535
The Wikipad is particularly odd amid a wide field of gaming device oddities. It originally made waves back in January due to its inclusion of glasses-free 3D technology, but now it doesn't even have that. That hasn't stopped the company behind the controller-enhanced Android tablet, aptly named Wikipad Inc., from pressing on. Their eponymous device will be brought to the masses courtesy of GameStop with a $499 price tag attached.]]>

The Wikipad is particularly odd amid a wide field of gaming device oddities. It originally made waves back in January due to its inclusion of glasses-free 3D technology, but now it doesn’t even have that. That hasn’t stopped the company behind the controller-enhanced Android tablet, aptly named Wikipad Inc., from pressing on. Their eponymous device will be brought to the masses courtesy of GameStop with a $499 price tag attached.

Though it includes a perfectly suitable Android tablet, the Wikipad isn’t really the Wikipad until that tablet is combined with its controller companion. It’s like the Voltron of gaming devices. Functional on its own, but really meant to be used together. Although, actually, the controller is basically worthless without the tablet, so, it’s more of a Captain Planet situation, and the controller’s Ma-Ti.

The tablet is said to support around six hours of continuous gameplay, or eight hours of video, on a single charge. As an unfortunate side effect of being the combination of a tablet and controller, the device clocks in at 560 grams — about twice the weight of the PlayStation Vita. As the controller scheme looks somewhat like an inverted PlayStation controller, it isn’t surprising to learn that it will support a number of PlayStation Mobile games.

So if you’re looking for an expensive way to play original PlayStation titles, but don’t want to bother with the PlayStation Vita, feel free to give this sucker a go. If you just want a tablet on which to quietly game during your commute, however, there are probably cheaper alternatives.

The whole Wikipad kit is set to launch exclusively at GameStop on October 31st.

Word on the digital street is that GameStop is going to start selling Steam gift cards next week. Reports come from Kotaku, who heard the news from a GameStop source. The cards are expected to start going on sale on May 15th, and will open the wide world of the Steam Marketplace to anyone who doesn't have access to a credit card or any other digital payment options. Alternatively, it might allow those of us who can't control ourselves to preemptively set up a system where we'll only binge on Steam sales in $50 bursts.

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Word on the digital street is that GameStop is going to start selling Steam gift cards next week. Reports come from Kotaku, who heard the news from a GameStop source. The cards are expected to start going on sale on May 15th, and will open the wide world of the Steam Marketplace to anyone who doesn’t have access to a credit card or any other digital payment options. Alternatively, it might allow those of us who can’t control ourselves to preemptively set up a system where we’ll only binge on Steam sales in $50 bursts.

The logic here seems to be: If you can’t wedge yourself into the digital distribution market with your own marketplace platform, might as well skim the profits off the most profitable digital marketplace of PC games, even if it means encouraging customers to shop there because, let’s face it, there’s not anything you can really do to stop it. It seems to be a slightly self-defeating move, but so long as GameStop can still make money through insane methods like essentially selling money for other services, or offering physical “copies” of digital downloads by way of codes printed on cardboard, they might as well keep doing it. I get the feeling they aren’t too long for this world anyway.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-steam-cards/feed/5Older Brother Sticks Up For Younger Brother’s Video Game Choices in Face of Abusive Fatherhttp://www.themarysue.com/video-game-argument/
http://www.themarysue.com/video-game-argument/#commentsMon, 09 Jan 2012 17:20:38 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=85616
It's pretty rare when a life-affirming, heart warming story sneaks its way out of a major American retail chain. Especially GameStop. But this story from blogger and GameStop shift manager Kristen Wolfe might very well put a warm feeling in the deepest, darkest cockles of your heart. It's about a young boy who wants to buy games with female protagonists, and a "girl color" controller. His father will hear nothing of it, threatening to "whoop" the boy if he doesn't choose something manlier -- then the young boy's older brother steps in.]]>

It’s pretty rare when a life-affirming, heart warming story sneaks its way out of a major American retail chain. Especially GameStop. But this story from blogger and GameStop shift manager Kristen Wolfe might very well put a warm feeling in the deepest, darkest cockles of your heart. It’s about a young boy who wants to buy games with female protagonists, and a “girl color” controller. His father will hear nothing of it, threatening to “whoop” the boy if he doesn’t choose something manlier — then the young boy’s older brother steps in.

What’s really wonderful about this story is how it underlines one of the best qualities of geek culture: That it so celebrates non-conformity. The kind of people that revel in dressing up in strange costumes, or living in a way that some people just don’t care to understand. This kid wanted to be himself, and wanted to enjoy the things he liked.

While many will (hopefully) never have to endure such a degrading experience as he did, I think we can all agree that he’s a pretty awesome kid — and the brother, especially.

you thought I didn’t really notice. But I did. I wanted to high-five you.

Yesterday I had a pair of brothers in my store. One was maybe between 15-17. He was a wrestler at the local high school. Kind of tall, stocky and handsome. He had a younger brother, who was maybe about 10-12 years old. The only way to describe him was scrawny, neat, and very clean for a boy his age. They were talking about finding a game for the younger one, and he was absolutely insisting it be one with a female character. I don’t know how many of y’all play games, but that isn’t exactly easy. Eventually, I helped the brothers pick a game called Mirror’s Edge. The youngest was pretty excited about the game, and then he specifically asked me.. “Do you have any girl color controllers?” I directed him to the only colored controllers we have which includes pink and purple ones. He grabbed the purple one, and informed me purple was his FAVORITE.

The boys had been taking awhile, so their father eventually comes in. He see’s the game, and the controller, and starts in on the youngest about how he needs to pick something different. Something more manly. Something with guns and fighting, and certainly not a purple controller. He tries to convince him to get the new Zombie game “Dead Island.” and the little boy just stands there repeating “Dad, this is what I want, ok?” Eventually it turns into a full blown argument complete with Dad threatening to whoop his son if he doesn’t choose different items.

That’s when big brother stepped in. He said to his Dad “It’s my money, it’s my gift to him, if it’s what he wants I’m getting it for him, and if your going to hit anyone for it, it’s going to be me.” Dad just gives his oldest son a strong stern stare down, and then leaves the store. Little brother is crying quietly, I walk over and ruffle his hair (yes this happened all in front of me.) I say “I’m a girl, and I like the color blue, and I like shooting games. There’s nothing wrong with what you like. Even if it’s different than what people think you should.” I smile, he smiles back (my heart melts!) Big brother then leans down, kisses little brother on the head, and says “Don’t worry dude.” They check out and leave, and all I can think is how awesome big brother is, how sweet little brother is, and how Dad ought to be ashamed for trying to make his son any other way.

9to5Mac reports that an announcement was made at a Las Vegas trade show that GameStop will begin carrying the full line of Apple's iOS devices in stores. GameStop has also begun accepting iOS device trade-ins for in-store credit, because of course they would. They're seemingly accepting trade-ins before they have actually obtained stock of new iOS devices to sell, which could suggest that -- aside from oh, GameStop -- GameStop may be waiting for the iPhone 5 before they begin stocking new iOS items.

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9to5Mac reports that an announcement was made at a Las Vegas trade show that GameStop will begin carrying the full line of Apple’s iOS devices in stores. GameStop has also begun accepting iOS device trade-ins for in-store credit, because of course they would. They’re seemingly accepting trade-ins before they have actually obtained stock of new iOS devices to sell, which could suggest that — aside from oh, GameStop — GameStop may be waiting for the iPhone 5 before they begin stocking new iOS items.

The stocking of iOS devices would make sense for the games-store-come-pawn-shop, as the mobile device market is technically the biggest market of gamers, albeit an extremely casual market of gamers who are outside of GameStop’s reach, which is exactly why it makes sense for GameStop to begin carrying the devices that put gamers outside of said reach.

The current rumor is that the iPhone 5 will hit this coming October, one month away, and will launch on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile, though there isn’t word yet regarding how GameStop will handle device activation. If there’s one thing we can be sure of regarding how GameStop will handle selling the iOS devices, it’s that their paragraph-long sales pitch when they answer the phone is going to get a few more sentences.

As you may know, Deus Ex: Human Revolution was released yesterday. If you buy a retail copy, it comes with a coupon that entitles you to play the game for free on the streaming service OnLive. That is, of course, unless you buy your retail copy from GameStop, whose employees were ordered to remove the coupon from the box and throw it away, in a memo from Field Operations Manager Josh Ivanoff.

It likely has to do with the fact that OnLive is a serious threat to GameStop. For the unfamiliar, OnLive is a game streaming service where games are actually played and processed on remote machines and then streamed, in real time, to the user. This negates the need for expensive, powerful hardware on the user's end and just requires a good Internet connection. It's a cloud gaming platform with a digital distribution system. In summary, the online, streaming, digital-friendly OnLive is everything GameStop is not, and it looks like GameStop is incredibly afraid that you might figure that out.

]]>

As you may know, Deus Ex: Human Revolution was released yesterday. If you buy a retail copy, it comes with a coupon that entitles you to play the game for free on the streaming service OnLive. That is, of course, unless you buy your retail copy from GameStop, whose employees were ordered to remove the coupon from the box and throw it away, in a memo from Field Operations Manager Josh Ivanoff.

It likely has to do with the fact that OnLive is a serious threat to GameStop. For the unfamiliar, OnLive is a game streaming service where games are actually played and processed on remote machines and then streamed, in real time, to the user. This negates the need for expensive, powerful hardware on the user’s end and just requires a good Internet connection. It’s a cloud gaming platform with a digital distribution system. In summary, the online, streaming, digital-friendly OnLive is everything GameStop is not, and it looks like GameStop is incredibly afraid that you might figure that out.

When Ars Technica came across this letter, they attempted to contact Ivanoff directly, but he refused to comment and transferred the matter to Public Relations. GameStop spokeswoman Beth Sharum is reported to have confirmed the activity mentioned in the memo, saying: “Square Enix packed the competitor’s coupon with our DX:HR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons.”

Okay, so maybe GameStop was unaware that they were going to be providing their customers with free coupons for their competitor’s service and it is understandable that they might not want to do so. However, going into every copy of a game, one by one, and removing the coupon is still an unprofessional way to handle the situation and also a tremendous sign of weakness on their part. Not only is the covert removal of these coupons actively robbing the customer of something he is entitled to, but it also lays bare GameStop’s passive, defensive and insecure approach to dealing with competition. If your best answer to other services is to go to great lengths to keep their existence a secret, what does that say about the services you provide and your confidence that those services are valuable in their own right? Not much.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-remove-online-coupons/feed/3Authorized Time Cover Used to Promote Commercial Product for First Time, Happens to be Call of Dutyhttp://www.themarysue.com/first-authorized-time-cover-commercial-product/
http://www.themarysue.com/first-authorized-time-cover-commercial-product/#commentsMon, 13 Jun 2011 17:16:23 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=63057

For the first time, an authorized Time cover has been created to promote a commercial product, which just so happens to be Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The cover, seen above, depicts a destroyed Wall Street with the headline "World Stands On The Brink," which, funnily enough, is exactly how Roger Ebert, noted video game naysayer, felt when he tweeted out that the first-ever authorized fake Time cover used to promote a commercial product just so happened to go to a video game, claiming that Time "sold its honor for a video game promotion" and it is "sad, sad, sad."

]]>

For the first time, an authorized Time cover has been created to promote a commercial product, which just so happens to be Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The cover, seen above, depicts a destroyed Wall Street with the headline “World Stands On The Brink,” which, funnily enough, is exactly how Roger Ebert, noted video game naysayer, felt when he tweeted out that the first-ever authorized fake Time cover used to promote a commercial product just so happened to go to a video game, claiming that Time “sold its honor for a video game promotion” and it is “sad, sad, sad.”

Time claims they haven’t sold their soul to Activision (like the rest of the gaming world!), but after much deliberation, they decided granting Activision access to their famous name and template would help them reach a new demographic that they may not have ever been able to reach. Richard Stengel, Time’s managing editor, feels allowing Activision to use a fictional cover for their game isn’t very different from using fictional characters in conjunction with Time’s “Person of the Year” issue, something they’ve done in the past.

The fake cover is actually being given as a pre-order bonus, which is nice, because it is something that isn’t pre-order, store-specific DLC. Modern Warfare 3 is slated to release on November 8 of this year.

Duke Nukem Foreverfinally went gold last week, ending a fourteen year streak of being everyone's favorite vaporware. Last year, developer Gearbox Software announced they were attempting to find a way to convince retailers to honor Duke Nukem Forever preorders made over a decade ago, an honorable gesture not frequently seen in the modern day gaming industry of Day One DLC and the biggest gaming-only retailer operating under business practices akin to a shady pawn shop that pays out $25 for a diamond-encrusted wedding ring that was bought with three months of salary.

GamePro wondered if any progress was made on the preorder-honoring front and asked GameStop if they'll be honoring those preorders made so hilariously long ago. GameStop responded:

"With a long-anticipated release like Duke Nukem Forever, we encourage customers who pre-ordered more than a year ago to verify their reservation with their local store prior to launch. Provided the customer has a receipt, we will honor even those pre-orders taken long ago. At this time, we expect that all pre-order customers will receive Duke's Big Package at time of purchase, regardless of when the reservation was made."

Duke Nukem Foreverfinally went gold last week, ending a fourteen year streak of being everyone’s favorite vaporware. Last year, developer Gearbox Software announced they were attempting to find a way to convince retailers to honor Duke Nukem Forever preorders made over a decade ago, an honorable gesture not frequently seen in the modern day gaming industry of Day One DLC and the biggest gaming-only retailer operating under business practices akin to a shady pawn shop that pays out $25 for a diamond-encrusted wedding ring that was bought with three months of salary.

GamePro wondered if any progress was made on the preorder-honoring front and asked GameStop if they’ll be honoring those preorders made so hilariously long ago. GameStop responded:

“With a long-anticipated release like Duke Nukem Forever, we encourage customers who pre-ordered more than a year ago to verify their reservation with their local store prior to launch. Provided the customer has a receipt, we will honor even those pre-orders taken long ago. At this time, we expect that all pre-order customers will receive Duke’s Big Package at time of purchase, regardless of when the reservation was made.”

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-honor-duke-nukem-forever-preorders/feed/1GameStop Says it Will Enter the Tablet Markethttp://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-tablet/
http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-tablet/#commentsThu, 07 Apr 2011 14:45:24 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=57192Once a staple of soul-crushing malls everywhere, GameStop has announced that it will begin selling tablet computers later this year to compliment its recent digital distribution acqusitions. The news comes as things look bullish for the game retailer; their purchase of game-streaming service Spawn labs and digital storefront Impulse have not only raised the company's stock but hinted at a new business model for the company.
Tony Bartel, the president of GameStop, cites the "hybrid market" where people purchase games for their different devices from different locations -- both physical and digital. Bartel, it seems, is angling to make GameStop one location to sell to all your devices. And what's more, they want a piece of the lucrative app-store style market, which has made overnight sensations out of iPhone and iPad developers.
What is a little bit puzzling is how Bartel described the device. From MSNBC:

If we can work with our partners and the OEMs and they come up with a great table that is enabled with a great gaming experience and coupled with a bluetooth controller, then there's no need to go out and develop our own [...] But if we can't find one that's great for gaming, then we will create our own.

Presumably, the Bluetooth controller will allow users to try a variety of different games over the Spawn Labs system before they purchase, though its exact role is unclear. The tablet may also act as a gateway to the app-market, perhaps luring in gamers who wouldn't otherwise have purchased a tablet device.
Though a surprising announcment, the GameStop tablet does cement the comittment of the company toward a strong, diverse digital marketplace. They have already comitted to providing a Steam-like online store that will give gamers access to their purchases, and have also said that they will not expand their floorspace in the coming year. But how GameStop plans to overcome Valve's juggernaut game marketplace Steam, or Apple's domination of the tablet market is yet to be seen.
(MSNBC via Slashdot)]]>Once a staple of soul-crushing malls everywhere, GameStop has announced that it will begin selling tablet computers later this year to compliment its recent digital distribution acqusitions. The news comes as things look bullish for the game retailer; their purchase of game-streaming service Spawn labs and digital storefront Impulse have not only raised the company’s stock but hinted at a new business model for the company.

Tony Bartel, the president of GameStop, cites the “hybrid market” where people purchase games for their different devices from different locations — both physical and digital. Bartel, it seems, is angling to make GameStop one location to sell to all your devices. And what’s more, they want a piece of the lucrative app-store style market, which has made overnight sensations out of iPhone and iPad developers.

What is a little bit puzzling is how Bartel described the device. From MSNBC:

If we can work with our partners and the OEMs and they come up with a great table that is enabled with a great gaming experience and coupled with a bluetooth controller, then there’s no need to go out and develop our own [...] But if we can’t find one that’s great for gaming, then we will create our own.

Presumably, the Bluetooth controller will allow users to try a variety of different games over the Spawn Labs system before they purchase, though its exact role is unclear. The tablet may also act as a gateway to the app-market, perhaps luring in gamers who wouldn’t otherwise have purchased a tablet device.

Though a surprising announcment, the GameStop tablet does cement the comittment of the company toward a strong, diverse digital marketplace. They have already comitted to providing a Steam-like online store that will give gamers access to their purchases, and have also said that they will not expand their floorspace in the coming year. But how GameStop plans to overcome Valve’s juggernaut game marketplace Steam, or Apple’s domination of the tablet market is yet to be seen.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-tablet/feed/0Man Arrested for Tunneling Into GameStop to Steal Gameshttp://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-tunnel/
http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-tunnel/#commentsSun, 16 Jan 2011 21:02:50 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=47170
There are many sides of the to-pirate-or-not-to-pirate debate. From those who think that pirating is wrong on principle, to those who think that pirating a game is a universal right, to those who love to pay money for all of their games but don't think twice about ripping a copy of StarCraft for a friend, and more.
But there's one thing that they can all agree on. It's hard to think of a dumber way to pirate games than to trying to tunnel into a retail store.
But nevertheless, 33 year old Steven Archer was arrested this Thursday in Tennessee for breaking into a vacant building and using it as a base to tunnel into his local GameStop next door. Although Archer was not ultimately successful (that is, he was arrested), he initially got away with about $300 in cash and more than $5,300 in games and electronics. So, that's a pretty hefty haul.
But it bears repeating: we have the internet now. There are easier ways to do this, guys.
(via Destructoid.)]]>

There are many sides of the to-pirate-or-not-to-pirate debate. From those who think that pirating is wrong on principle, to those who think that pirating a game is a universal right, to those who love to pay money for all of their games but don’t think twice about ripping a copy of StarCraft for a friend, and more.

But there’s one thing that they can all agree on. It’s hard to think of a dumber way to pirate games than to trying to tunnel into a retail store.

But nevertheless, 33 year old Steven Archer was arrested this Thursday in Tennessee for breaking into a vacant building and using it as a base to tunnel into his local GameStop next door. Although Archer was not ultimately successful (that is, he was arrested), he initially got away with about $300 in cash and more than $5,300 in games and electronics. So, that’s a pretty hefty haul.

But it bears repeating: we have the internet now. There are far, far easier ways to do this, guys.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-tunnel/feed/2Call of Duty: Black Ops is Most Pre-Ordered Game of all Time at GameStophttp://www.themarysue.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-most-preordered/
http://www.themarysue.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-most-preordered/#commentsTue, 09 Nov 2010 16:21:28 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=38985

Bob McKenzie, senior VP of marketing and merchandising over at GameStop, told Eurogamer that the pre-orders for Call of Duty: Black Ops "hit the largest number of reservations we've had on any release so far." That's right, the first Call of Duty since Activision basically lost the "good" Call of Duty developer, developed by the "not nearly as good" Call of Duty developer Treyarch, is the most pre-ordered video game of all time at the retail gaming giant.

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Bob McKenzie, senior VP of marketing and merchandising over at GameStop, told Eurogamer that the pre-orders for Call of Duty: Black Ops “hit the largest number of reservations we’ve had on any release so far.” That’s right, the first Call of Duty since Activision basically lost the “good” Call of Duty developer, developed by the “not nearly as good” Call of Duty developer Treyarch, is the most pre-ordered video game of all time at the retail gaming giant.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-most-preordered/feed/0Nintendo Makes A Real Wiimote: The Wii Remote Plushttp://www.themarysue.com/wii-remote-plus/
http://www.themarysue.com/wii-remote-plus/#commentsFri, 24 Sep 2010 16:34:30 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=34325
The general consensus from gaming media after the release of the Wii MotionPlus accessory has been favorable. The only problem, most would agree, is that the little addon's superior motion tracking abilities weren't packaged with the standard Wiimote from launch. Why put out a control system based on motion tracking when the motion tracking isn't really good enough to chart one-to-one movements?
Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is, Nintendo is making a Wii Remote Plus, a wiimote (seriously, why is this word not the official jargon yet?) with the MotionPlus capabilities built in.
The bad news is that you're going to have to buy it all over again.]]>

The general consensus from gaming media after the release of the Wii MotionPlus accessory has been favorable. The only problem, most would agree, is that the little addon’s superior motion tracking abilities weren’t packaged with the standard Wiimote from launch. Why put out a control system based on motion tracking when the motion tracking isn’t really good enough to chart one-to-one movements?

Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is, Nintendo is making a Wii Remote Plus, a wiimote (seriously, why is this word not the official jargon yet?) with the MotionPlus capabilities built in.

The bad news is that you’re going to have to buy it all over again.

The new controller will be packaged with FlingSmash, an Angry-Birds-type paddle-ball/block-destruction game that releases on November 7th (presumably it will become available as a stand alone product at some later point). FlingSmash is currently listed for pre-order on Amazon at a $50 price point, which basically means you’re paying $10 more than you would for a regular controller, and getting a game that you may or may not actually wind up playing.

We know all this because of a Gamestop listing (since taken down) that shows the new controller along with the FlingSmash box art (it also explains why a casual little thing like FlingSmash would have a $50 asking price). Nintendo has also confirmed the existence of the Wii Remote Plus before, but they have not yet commented on the device’s appearance alongside FlingSmash.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/wii-remote-plus/feed/0THQ Punishes Used Game Buyershttp://www.themarysue.com/thq-punishes-used-game-buyers/
http://www.themarysue.com/thq-punishes-used-game-buyers/#commentsWed, 25 Aug 2010 18:53:07 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=31052In what will probably be the latest big gaming controversy, publisher THQ decided to hamper their used games via one-time codes that unlock online functionality.
After THQ's announced plans to hamper their used games by including a single-use code that allows online play in their upcoming Smackdown vs. Raw 2011, the publisher's creative director Corey Ledesma made some rather controversial statements to CVG regarding the move:

"I don't think we really care whether used game buyers are upset because new game buyers get everything. So if used game buyers are upset they don't get the online feature set I don't really have much sympathy for them.

That's a little blunt but we hope it doesn't disappoint people. We hope people understand that when the game's bought used we get cheated.

I don't think anyone wants that so in order for us to make strong, high-quality WWE games we need loyal fans that are interested in purchasing the game. We want to award those fans with additional content."

]]>In what will probably be the latest big gaming controversy, publisher THQ decided to hamper their used games via one-time codes that unlock online functionality.

After THQ’s announced plans to hamper their used games by including a single-use code that allows online play in their upcoming Smackdown vs. Raw 2011, the publisher’s creative director Corey Ledesma made some rather controversial statements to CVG regarding the move:

“I don’t think we really care whether used game buyers are upset because new game buyers get everything. So if used game buyers are upset they don’t get the online feature set I don’t really have much sympathy for them.

That’s a little blunt but we hope it doesn’t disappoint people. We hope people understand that when the game’s bought used we get cheated.

I don’t think anyone wants that so in order for us to make strong, high-quality WWE games we need loyal fans that are interested in purchasing the game. We want to award those fans with additional content.”

However, a day later, core games boss Danny Bilson came out to hopefully quash the negative press and told Eurogamer:

“What I care about the most is building great games people are excited to buy.

If all of that revenue is going outside of the people who are making the games, it’s really tough for us to fund them. It’s that simple.

But we also don’t want to punish the used gamer.

So one of the things you’re going to see us do, in addition to what is called the online lockout, which sounds a little punishing, is we’re also going to be giving some downloadable content with that card.

For instance, on our next WWE title, if you buy it used and there’s a $10 fee to unlock all the online. It also unlocks the first DLC pack. So the used consumer feels they’re getting something for their money, not just a getting out of jail card.”

Danny Bilson doesn’t address a few key issues, however. For instance, how will used game buyers feel when they don’t get the premium DLC on top of not getting the online features? Doesn’t that simply exacerbate the situation? How will THQ address the pricing issue? In the case of recently released titles, the price drop associated with used games can be as little as $5. So, if Danny Bilson’s hypothetical pricing of $10 becomes official, couldn’t used game buyers actually be paying more for the used game if they want the online functionality?

With Electronic Arts, Activision, Ubisoft and now THQ attempting to curb the sale of used games, a royal rumble between used game retailers like GameStop, pricing structures, publishers and consumers may well be looming over the horizon.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/thq-punishes-used-game-buyers/feed/3Kongregate Bought by GameStophttp://www.themarysue.com/kongregate-gamestop/
http://www.themarysue.com/kongregate-gamestop/#commentsTue, 27 Jul 2010 16:10:34 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=27538
All of our jaws dropped when we found this out: The excellent social Flash game site Kongregate is being purchased by real-world games retailer GameStop.]]>

All of our jaws dropped when we found this out: The excellent social Flash game site Kongregate is being purchased by real-world games retailer GameStop.

In a video announcing the purchase, Kongregate co-founder Jim Greer expressed his commitment to the partnership and his sense that GameStop “get[s] what we’re doing and value it for what it is: They want to help us make it bigger and throw their resources behind it.” Greer elaborates in a Reddit thread:

Hey guys. It’s true, we’re part of GameStop now.

Like I said in the video, GameStop is not the only offer we’ve had. The reason we went with them is that they are very focused on going the way of Netflix, not the way of Blockbuster. They have serious resources to put behind that, and they’re committed to it. I’ll be reporting to the president. There’s no way we would have that kind of stature and control if we’d sold to a big media company, or Google, or whatever. They’re keeping the entire staff, and we’ll be able to hire more programmers and get more done.

I know that there’s no way that I can say prove that we’ll stay true to what has made Kong a great gaming community – all I can say is watch us and see what happens.

Further into the thread, Kongregate community manager Alison Claire reaffirms that “we will not become soulless corporate drones. This really, really is a good thing and we wouldn’t have done it if they weren’t going to let us/didn’t want us to remain who we are.”

Words of assurance duly noted and appreciated, you can still count us among the slightly nervous about the merger: This isn’t just a medium-sized company merging with a larger one, but a tiny one merging with a huge one, and we hope that GameStop’s commitment to Kongregate’s original indie, organically social vibe continues unabated once the ink dries and it becomes a fully owned subsidiary. On the plus side, this could be our greatest hope yet for getting a Battletoads game on Kongregate.

]]>http://www.themarysue.com/kongregate-gamestop/feed/0GameStop Being Investigated by NY AG’s Officehttp://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-being-investigaed-by-ny-ags-office/
http://www.themarysue.com/gamestop-being-investigaed-by-ny-ags-office/#commentsSat, 06 Feb 2010 16:12:15 +0000http://www.geekosystem.com/?p=3486
In what could be seen as yet another step down the road towards complete digital distribution, GameStop is being investigated by the New York Attorney General's office on charges of linking its customers to shady discount people.
GameStop is only one of almost two dozen online retailers on the AG's list, alongside such hallowed edifices as Barnes & Noble, Buy.com, and... Pizza Hut? ]]>

In what could be seen as yet another step down the road towards complete digital distribution, GameStop is being investigated by the New York Attorney General‘s office on charges of linking its customers to shady discount people.

GameStop is only one of almost two dozen online retailers on the AG’s list, alongside such hallowed edifices as Barnes & Noble, Buy.com, and… Pizza Hut? Specifically, the AG’s office is worried that these retailers are misleading customers into signing up for monthly fees or giving their credit card information to a third party without ever realizing it. That is, until the fees show up on their statement.

[Andrew] Cuomo’s investigation has found that when consumers shop online from familiar retailers, they are often presented with a discount or cash-back incentive offer as they complete their purchase. When consumers click on the discount or incentive banner, they are unknowingly directed to a membership program seller’s Web page that is separate from the online retailer’s site. The consumer is then instructed through large, colorful print and voice prompts to accept the discount or incentive. Information about joining the membership program and its ramifications, including the fact that the consumer is agreeing to transfer his or her credit or debit card account information, is buried in fine print and cluttered text. Small and recurring charges then begin to appear on consumers’ credit or debit card bills from unfamiliar companies. Because of the low dollar amount, the charges may go unnoticed for some time.

Ticket retailer Fandango.com has already taken steps to end its cooperation with discount program sellers, including a payment of $400,000 to a consumer redress fund.

Pizza Hut? So… the AG’s office is saying that once you’re done ordering your pizza, some third party offers you nebulous pizza discounts? Huh. Well, watch out for that. No such thing as a free lunch, and all that.